Systems and methods for displaying estimated relevance indicators for result sets of documents and for displaying query visualizations

Abstract

Systems and methods for displaying estimated relevance indicators for result sets of documents and for displaying query visualizations are disclosed. A method includes receiving a search query including a plurality of query terms. The method further includes searching a database using the search query to identify the result set of documents and calculating an estimated relevance score for the result set of documents. The estimated relevance score is indicative of a degree to which the result set of documents are relevant to the search query. The method further includes providing for display the estimated relevance indicator based on the estimated relevance score. The estimated relevance indicator provides a visual indication of the degree to which the result set of documents are relevant to the search query. Query visualizations including a plurality of nodes and a plurality of connectors are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying computer-executable instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to execute operations for providing for display an estimated relevance indicator for a result set of documents comprising:
 receiving, at a computer, the search query, wherein the search query includes a plurality of query terms; 
 searching a database using the search query to identify a result set of documents, wherein the result set of documents are identified based on the search query; 
 calculating an estimated relevance score for the result set of documents, wherein the estimated relevance score is indicative of a degree to which the result set of documents are relevant to the search query; 
 providing for display an estimated relevance indicator based on the estimated relevance score, wherein the estimated relevance indicator provides a visual indication of the degree to which the result set of documents are relevant to the search query; 
 determining that the estimated relevance score is less than a relevance score threshold; 
 in response to determining that the estimated relevance score is less than the relevance score threshold providing at least one suggestion to modify the search query for improving the search query; 
 in response to providing at least one suggestion for improving the search query, receiving a query improvement; 
 in response to receiving the query improvement, generating an improved search query; 
 searching the database using the improved search query to identify an improved result set of documents, wherein the improved result set of documents are identified based on the improved search query; 
 calculating an improved estimated relevance score for the improved result set of documents, wherein the improved estimated relevance score is indicative of a degree to which the improved result set of documents are relevant to the improved search query; and 
 providing for display an updated estimated relevance indicator based on the improved estimated relevance score, wherein the updated estimated relevance indicator provides a visual indication of the degree to which the improved result set of documents are relevant to the improved search query. 
 
     
     
       2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the estimated relevance indicator provides a visual indication that query improvement is suggested. 
     
     
       3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein providing at least one suggestion for improving the search query includes providing for display one or more suggested query terms. 
     
     
       4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein providing at least one suggestion for improving the search query includes providing for display a prompt requesting an entry of at least one predefined query component. 
     
     
       5. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one query component includes a jurisdiction, a date, a practice area, and a content type. 
     
     
       6. A method for providing for display an estimated relevance indicator for a result set of documents, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a computer, the search query, wherein the search query includes a plurality of query terms; 
 searching a database using the search query to identify a result set of documents, wherein the result set of documents are identified based on the search query; 
 calculating an estimated relevance score for the result set of documents, wherein the estimated relevance score is indicative of a degree to which the result set of documents are relevant to the search query; 
 providing for display an estimated relevance indicator based on the estimated relevance score, wherein the estimated relevance indicator provides a visual indication of the degree to which the result set of documents are relevant to the search query; 
 determining that the estimated relevance score is less than a relevance score threshold; 
 and in response to determining that the estimated relevance score is less than the relevance score threshold, providing at least one suggestion to modify the search query for improving the search query; 
 in response to providing at least one suggestion for improving the search query, receiving a query improvement; 
 in response to receiving the query improvement, generating an improved search query; 
 searching the database using the improved search query to identify an improved result set of documents, wherein the improved result set of documents are identified based on the improved search query; 
 calculating an improved estimated relevance score for the improved result set of documents, wherein the improved estimated relevance score is indicative of a degree to which the improved result set of documents are relevant to the improved search query; and 
 providing for display an updated estimated relevance indicator based on the improved estimated relevance score, wherein the updated estimated relevance indicator provides a visual indication of the degree to which the improved result set of documents are relevant to the improved search query. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the estimated relevance indicator provides a visual indication that query improvement is suggested. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein providing at least one suggestion for improving the search query includes providing for display one or more suggested query terms. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein providing at least one suggestion for improving the search query includes providing for display a prompt requesting an entry of at least one predefined query component. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one query component includes a jurisdiction, a date, a practice area, and a content type.